Recent Posts

Commercial Desiccant Ready for your large loss

If you have a large commercial water loss and you need it remedied as quickly as possible, call SERVPRO of Portsmouth at 757-397-3770. We have recently acquired a state of the art, 5000 CFM Desiccant, accompanied by a 150kw generator. Our desiccant is designed to dry large commercial buildings in a fraction of the time of a conventional fan or air mover. This helps you and your business get back on track as soon as possible, making the damage feel “Like it never even happened.”

Currently, our desiccant is stationed in Louisiana, where we are helping the flood victims get their buildings dried out and ready to open for business again. We understand how devastating disasters can be, and how important it is to help people get back to normalcy as quickly as possible. Our Desiccant will remain in Louisiana for as long as it takes to ensure the safety and peace of minds of the victims of this terrible tragedy. As soon as we finish our work in Louisiana, the desiccant will be back in Hampton Roads ready for any size commercial loss.

Mold Overview

Mold can grow anywhere that there is moisture and normally you can see or smell if you have a mold problem. It always needs three things to grow; water or moisture, a food source, and time. Mold usually appears to be fuzzy, with discolored patches that can be slimy, accompanied by a musty odor. If the mold is not visible, it is commonly found behind or underneath carpets, walls, wallpaper and cabinets. Sources that can lead to mold are flooding, roof leaks, indoor plumbing leaks, humidifiers, damp basements and crawlspaces, steam from your bathroom or kitchen, and outdoor drainage problems.

Exposure to mold can cause health issues including headaches, coughing, itchy/watery eyes, wheezing and difficulty breathing, skin irritation, and sinus congestion. You are more susceptible to these health issues if you currently have a respiratory condition or a compromised immune system. Mold cleanup starts with controlling the moisture problem, and identifying and correcting the source of the water/dampness. Call us here at SERVPRO of Portsmouth and we will be happy to answer any questions and assist you in remediating your mold issues.

Reach us at 757-397-3770

National Preparedness Month is September

September is National Preparedness Month and we encourage you to take action to prep for any emergencies that could arise in your home or workplace. Make an emergency communication plan for both your home and workplace in the event of floods, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and winter storms. Educate yourself and your community with the dangers of these disasters and how to best cope with them.

This month is known for a lot of Hurricane activity and we want to make sure you are prepared in the event a storm does hit our area.

Make sure you are prepared with a disaster supply kit. During an emergency, it is important that you have cell phone backup power, batteries, flashlights, bottled water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, battery-powered radio, and portable generator Conduct practice drills with your family and co-workers for each scenario. Be sure that your home and belongings are properly insured. Talk to your neighbors and share your tips on preparedness. You never know when disaster will strike so it is important to take the proper precautions to ensure peace of mind. For more safety tips, along with a complete list of important emergency items visit ReadyVirginia.gov.

The Water You Don't see hiding

With any leak or spill, it’s the water you don't see that can cause the most damage. When you experience a water damage, make the right choice. A mop and common household cleaning products may not be enough for the unseen water intrusions. While the surface may seem dry, the water you don’t see can contain bacteria, cause mold or rot, and cause other unseen damage.

The insurance industry estimates that approximately 90 percent of household damages come from water-related occurrences. The most commonly reported cause is leaky or broken pipes and plumbing fixtures. Home appliances are considered a leading cause of preventable water damage. By implementing a simple inspection and maintenance program, homeowners can reduce their risk significantly:

Dishwasher - Periodically check around the base of the dishwasher, as well as the water supply line under the sink.

Refrigerator - For refrigerators with ice makers, periodically check the hose connection attached to the water supply.

Washing Machine - Hoses should be inspected regularly for wetness around hose ends, as well as for signs of bulging, cracking or fraying. Hoses should be replaced every three to five years.

Water Heater - While the service life of the standard water heater is 10 to 15 years, water heaters should be inspected routinely for signs of leaks or tank rust. Water heaters should be located next to a floor drain or placed inside a drain pan piped to the floor drain.

So before risking the value of your home or further damage by attempting to clean and dry it yourself, call SERVPRO of Portsmouth to inspect your home at 757-397-3770.

Hurricane Preparedness 2017

Hurricane season is upon us and here at SERVPRO of Portsmouth we urge our community to be prepared for any emergencies that might arise. With recent events in Houston TX and surrounding areas we urge you to always be prepared. It is extremely important to have an evacuation plan and know your local evacuation route for both your home and your workplace. Make sure you and your family have a disaster kit equipped with the proper supplies, including batteries, a flashlight, first aid supplies, cash, and copies of your identification/documentation. Be prepared for the event that you lose water and power and be aware that you may not be able to evacuate due to flooded or blocked roads. Always have a list of your emergency contacts readily available.

Hurricanes are classified into 5 categories, with a category 5 hurricane having the potential to do the most damage. Category 5 hurricanes have been known to produce winds over 150 miles per hour, so make sure to take the necessary precautions to protect your family, home, and workplace. Secure your outdoor tools and furniture and board up all windows with plywood. Turn off utilities and propane tanks if instructed to do so by the authorities. You can get a complete recommended list of hurricane preparedness tips on FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov.

Hurricane 2017 Prep

Just about everyone living in the Hampton Roads area has had to deal with the effects of a hurricane at one point or another. In just the past 15 years, Hampton Roads has been hit by Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Hurricane Isabel in 2003, and Hurricane Irene in 2011. Anyone who was in the area for these storms knows the destruction that comes in the wake of these storms. Even though there is nothing we can do to prevent storms of this magnitude, there are a lot of things that we can do to better prepare ourselves to deal with them. The first step is to be knowledgeable.

We have been very lucky in years past to have not had any major storms. By all accounts, we were in for a very busy hurricane season. While we are just now entering the peak of the season, we have not seen anything major hit land. Although we have been free and clear, it doesn’t mean we are out of the woods yet. Just last year Hurricane Sandy hit in October. Looking back at 2001, Hurricane Chantal kicked off the hurricane season in September and was followed up by 15 named storms, including nine hurricanes.

So what does this mean for Hampton Roads? It means we are not quite out of the woods yet but we are in the home stretch. Don’t let this period of inactivity lull you to sleep. It is more important than ever to have a plan and to be prepared. You can go to www.ready.gov for more information on making an emergency plan.

Call SERVPRO of Portsmouth today at 757-397-3770 and we can help you prepare for the storm.

Summer is Here and it's Time to Grill but Be Careful

“Three out of five households own a gas grill” (NFPA); that’s a lot of burgers and hot dogs. Unfortunately, about 8,800 home fires occur each year as a result of gas grills. That's a lot of hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks and chicken.

Always grill outside, and keep the grill well away from the house, deck railings, overhanging branches and all furniture.

At the start of grilling season, check your propane tank hose for leaks.

The NFPA suggests applying a light soap and water solution to the hose. Turn on the propane. A propane leak will release bubbles. If there are bubbles, turn the propane off immediately. If the leak stops, meaning you no longer smell propane after the gas is shut off, then have your grill serviced by a professional before using it.

If the leak does not stop, meaning you can still smell propane after turning off the gas, call the fire department and do not touch or attempt to move the grill.

Never use charcoal lighter fluid to try to start a stubborn gas grill. Ever.

Clean your grill trays regularly. Make this part of your summer weekend cleaning routine. The less greasy substance on or around your grill, the better.

Keep pets and children away from the grill. Most know to keep children away, but a rambunctious pet can knock over a grill and cause tremendous damage. Keep both your pet and your home safe simultaneously by keeping pets inside until the cooking is done.

If you smell gas while cooking, immediately move away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not touch the grill.

If the flame goes out while cooking, turn both the grill and gas off and wait 15 minutes before relighting.

Never use gasoline on any grill. Fires caused by gasoline are major sources of burns in the United States.

If you are burned while grilling, remove clothing and accessories from the burn site, run cold water over the injury to cool the skin, and call 911.

And if you unfortunately do have a fire, call SERVPRO of Portsmouth at 757-397-3770 and we can assist with your restoration needs. Have a SAFE and FUN Summer.

The Polar Vortex and What to Expect in Winter Seasons

Polar vortexes, or polar cyclones as they are sometimes called, are climatological features that hover near the poles year-round. These cold-core low-pressure areas strengthen in the winter and weaken in the summer. Strengthening storm systems within the troposphere (the lowest portion of the Earth’s atmosphere) can act to intensify the polar vortex by significantly cooling the poles. A portion of the polar vortex can be fragmented and plunge over Canada, the Midwestern, Central, Southern and Northeastern United States. This alteration in the polar vortex can occur due to the displacement of the polar jet stream.

An example of this alteration would be the significant northwestern push of the polar jet stream over the Western part of the United States this past winter. This is different than the El Nino and La Nina weather occurrences, which are based on the water temperatures and air pressure in the Pacific Ocean that we have seen in the past. So, will the polar vortex have an effect on the upcoming winter?

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, this winter the East Coast will be colder with normal to above-normal snowfall. The coldest periods will be late December through early January and the snowiest periods will be mid-January to early February. Accuweather predicts a soggy, stormy end of the year for the Southeast as a result of the effects of El Nino and even suggests that there may be snow in December. We will have to see if it rains or only sprinkles this winter.

So it sounds like the Hampton Roads area will need to prepare for a cold and wet winter. Get your sweaters out, stock up on hot cocoa and prepare your home. Have the chimney inspected, check to see that your pipes are insulated, remember to turn your faucets to a slow, constant drip if the temperatures will be below 20?, disconnect the garden hoses, check all of the weather stripping around your windows and doors, and replace your HVAC filters. All of these things will help keep you and your home safe and minimize any possible damages that could be caused by the sudden drops in temperature.

Although we haven’t seen a whole lot of cold weather so far this winter, it looks like it could still be just around the corner. If it does hit, we probably will not see the same effects as we did on January 21, 1985 when the temperatures dropped to 3 degrees below zero in Norfolk making it the coldest day in the history of Hampton Roads.

Call SERVPRO of Portsmouth at 757-397-3770.

Fall Brings Cool Weather and Increased Risk of Fires

There is a chill in the air, beautiful colors outside, football on the TV, and an abundance of decorations to be put up. With everything going on in the fall, it is easy to forget that autumn can be a dangerous time for fires. It is very important to be prepared and aware of your surroundings.

As you start to put up the decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving, remember that dried flowers, cornstalks, and bales of straw are all highly flammable. Pair this with the candle-lit Jack-O-Lanterns along with other open flames and there is a recipe for disaster. It is very important to be careful and think about the way you decorate. Be sure to keep any flames far away from anything even remotely flammable. It is also very important to keep all exits clear of all decorations.

SERVPRO of Portsmouth isn’t the only one stressing fire prevention in the fall. Each October, the National Fire Protection Association observes Fire Prevention Week. It is a week designated to encourage people to evaluate their surroundings and make sure that they have a plan in place in the event of a fire. It’s a great time for schools and families to teach children about fire safety.

Even if you don’t have children, take some time this month to make sure you have a plan in place. Make sure you have up to date fire extinguishers at the ready and fresh batteries in your smoke detectors. Always remember, no one ever expects a fire to happen. A good plan and fast action can turn a total loss into a small claim.

Power Outages Affect Hampton Roads

Due to the humid weather lately, Hampton roads has experienced many severe thunderstorms. This has, in turn, caused both residential homes as well as commercial business to experience outages.

Thousands were without power in Virginia Beach on the night of July 15, 2015 after a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for some areas on the Southside. According to Dominion Virginia Power, more than 2,000 customers in Virginia Beach experienced a power outage. Just after midnight, that number had been reduced to about 1,500 customers and the estimated restoration time was 3 a.m.

Here are some tips that will prove to be helpful if a power outage looks likely.

To prepare for a power outage you should do the following:

•To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.

•Follow energy conservation measures to keep the use of electricity as low as possible, which can help power companies avoid imposing rolling power outages.

•Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer if there's room. Leave about an inch of space inside each one, because water expands as it freezes. This chilled or frozen water will help keep food cold during a temporary power outage, by displacing air that can warm up quickly with water or ice that keeps cold for several hours without additional refrigeration.

•Be aware that most medication that requires refrigeration can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.

•Keep your car tank at least half full because gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.

•Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it. Garage doors can be heavy, so know that you may need help to lift it.

•Keep a key to your house with you if you regularly use the garage as the primary means of entering your home, in case the garage door will not open.